In a year when Republicans have been able to harness economic anxiety to their distinct advantage, the upcoming Senate election is crucial this year. It is increasingly clear that states such as, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas and North Carolina will be the most crucial in determining which party controls the Senate.

According to CNN, nearly 7 in 10 Americans are angry at the direction the country is headed and 53% of Americans disapprove of President Barack Obama’s job performance and a dysfunctional Washington, two troubling signs for Democrats one week before the midterm elections.

Democrats are battling to try and save the Senate majority, while hoping to prevent more losses in the House, which the GOP controls by a 234 to 201 margin. Yet several state polls in the past month of contested races show that Democrats are in danger of losing control of the majority.

In the meantime, the GOP’s plan and position has been to block the vote. To discourage minorities from voting in those southern states where democratic president Barack Obama won big in 2008 and in 2012.